Apart
from the guests the painted musicians squatted close together and made
the air vibrant with the softly monotonous strumming of their
instruments.
The company, which was large, had fallen into easy attitudes; an
exciting game of drafts, or a story-teller, or a beauty, attracting
groups here and there over the hall.
Before one table, whereon the scattered pawns of a game yet lay,
Rameses lounged in a deep chair, a semi-recumbent figure in marble and
obsidian. Beside him, where she had seated herself at his command, was
Masanath.
There was Seti at Ta-user's side, but Io was not at the feast. She
mourned for Kenkenes. Ta-meri was there, the bride of a week to
Nechutes, who hovered about her without eye or ear for any other of the
company. Siptah, Menes, Har-hat, all of the group save Hotep and
Kenkenes, were present and near enough to be of the crown prince's
party, yet scattered sufficiently to talk among themselves.
The game of drafts, prolonged from one to many, had ended disastrously
for the prince in spite of his most gallant efforts to win. Masanath,
against whom he had played, finally thrust the pawns away and refused
to play further with him.
"Thou dost make sport for the Hathors, O Prince," she said.
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